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SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5: Cosmic Fireworks
The remains of four supernovas in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy provide a dazzling display of one of nature's most explosive events. These X-ray images show multimillion degree gas that has been heated by shock waves from the explosions. Moving in a clockwise direction from the upper left to the lower left, the approximate ages of the remnants are 600 years, 1500 years, 10,000 years and 13,000 years, respectively.
Chandra X-ray spectra provide important clues as to how these stars exploded. The remnants on the upper left, upper right and lower right show a concentration of elements typical of a Type Ia
supernova. Such an explosion is triggered when matter is pulled from a companion star onto a white dwarf star and pushes it past the limit of stability. The ensuing thermonuclear explosion completely disrupts the white dwarf star.
In contrast, the supernova that produced the remnant SNR 0453-68.5 left behind a neutron star. This indicates that a Type II supernova occurred when the nuclear power source of a massive star became exhausted and the stellar core collapsed to form a neutron star, while the outer layers of the star were blown away. The rapidly spinning neutron star is ejecting a magnetized wind of extremely high-energy particles, which appears in the image as the elongated, bright blue-white spot at the center of the remnant.
| Fast Facts for SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5: |
| Credit |
NASA/CXC/SAO |
| Category |
Supernovas & Supernova Remnants |
| Color Code |
Energy (Red: low energy; Green: medium energy; Blue: high energy) |
| Constellation |
Dorado |
| Instrument |
ACIS |
| References |
SNR 0519-69.0: K. Borkowski et al 2006 Astrophys. J.642, L141
SNR 0509-68.7(a.k.a. N103B): Lewis et al (2003) Astrophys. J 582, 770; J. Warren and J. Hughes, Astrophys. J. 608, 261
SNR 0453-68.5: B. Gaensler et al (2003) Astrophys. J. 594, L111
SNR 0534-69.9: S. Hendrick et al. 2003, Astrophys. J. 593, 370 |
| Distance Estimate |
About 160,000 light years |
| Release Date |
July 03, 2006 |
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| More Information on SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5: |
More Images of SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5
SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5 Handout: html | pdf
SNR 0519-69.0, 0509-68.7, 0534-69.9, and 0453-68.5 Animations
Powerpoint and PDF
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| Related Chandra Images: |
Photo Album: SNR 0540-69.3 (20 Apr 04)
Photo Album: N63A (19 Dec 03)
Photo Album: DEM L71 (12 Mar 03)
Photo Album: N132D (22 May 02)
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| More Information on Supernovas & Supernova Remnants : |
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide:
Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Questions and Answers: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Chandra Images: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
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